13 Time Cut Easter Eggs, References & Hidden Details

Netflix's Time Cut not only walks viewers through a compelling sci-fi drama but also drops fascinating pop-culture references from the early 2000s. Directed by Hannah MacPherson, Time Cut tries to create a mishmash of several different genres by using time travel as its primary narrative device. It presents the familiar tale of a teenage girl who accidentally ends up in the past, giving her the opportunity to change the future for good.

Unfortunately, despite having an intriguing premise, the Netflix time travel movie has failed to leave its mark among critics. It holds an underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes score of 17%, with many criticizing the movie for its inability to bring something new to the table. However, with all the criticism, Time Cut is also earning some appreciation for its accurate depiction of the mid-aughts and notalgic references and nods to the period's pop culture.

13 Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Poster In Summer Room

Time Cut Subtly Calls Back To The Supernatural Show's Popularity

Time Cut's opening arc highlights how Lucy never knew her sister because she was murdered long before she was born. Therefore, in an effort to understand her older sister, Lucy often visits her room, which seemingly remains untouched in her memory. As soon as Lucy enters Summer's room, a Buffy The Vampire Slayer poster can be spotted on a wall in the background, reminding viewers of the show's immense popularity and cultural impact in the late 90s and early 2000s.

12 iMac G3 On Summer's Table

The Personal Computer Is Now A Relic

A closer look at Summer's room also reveals she had an iMac G3, a series of Macintosh personal computers sold by Apple in the late 90s and early 2000s. Although Apple had yet to build its reputation as a premium brand back then, the iMac was among the fastest-selling computers developed by the brand. The portrayal of the iMac G3 on Summer's table gives a glimpse of how the brand made its way into many households in the mid-aughts before blowing up in popularity a few decades later with other electronic gadgets.

11 CDs And CD Players

The Storage Devices Have Long Been Replaced

After entering Summer's room, Lucy places a CD inside an old dusty audio system. The CD also has a message scribbled on it, reminding one of how mixtapes were once ideal gifts. The first playing on the mixtape is Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles," which washes another wave of nostalgia over the viewer as it remains Carlton's biggest hit in the United States. Over the years, the song has repeatedly appeared in many movies, making it almost a crucial hallmark of early 2000s pop culture.

Related

Time Cut Cast & Character Guide

Apart from walking through a compelling time travel slasher drama, Netflix's Time Cut also features memorable characters played by talented actors.

10 Landline Phones

The Movie Creates A Clear Contrast Between Landline & Mobile Phones

Lucy also curiously looks at the landline phone in Summer's room, which is another reminder of how her sister grew up in a completely different era. Interestingly, much later in its story, Time Cut features a scene in which Lucy uses her landline to prove to Quinn that she is from the future. Quinn takes one look at her phone and is convinced that a device like that could not exist in his timeline.

9 A Volkswagen Beetle

2003 Marked The End Of The Car's Long And Successful Production

Right after Lucy starts realizing she is in 2003, a yellow Volkswagen Beetle briefly passes the screen. Although the car's appearance is fleeting, it is a perfect callback to one of the most iconic cars in the history of automobiles. It perfectly fits the movie's past timeline's setting because its production lasted for 65 years before ending in 2003.

8 Heelys

Time Cut Highlights How Cool The Heelys Were Considered In 2003

As soon as Lucy enters her school, the first thing she notices is how everyone is dressed. Two kids even pass by wearing the Heelys, the iconic shoes with wheels that were first patented in 1999. Although the shoes are still in production, they were a nostalgic symbol for the early 2000s, reminding one of the skating culture of the mid-aughts.

7 Ed Hardy T-shirts

Don Ed Hardy's Brand Made Waves In The Early 2000s

A few students at Lucy's school also sport Ed Hardy t-shirts, which gained immense popularity in the early 2000s because many celebrities like Paris Hilton and Jon Gosselin endorsed the brand. The brand grew so much in the first decade of the 21st century that it made more than $700 million in gross revenue in 2009. Although its influence has collapsed significantly since then, Ed Hardy's merchandise is still a reminder of street fashion from the era.

6 Ugg Boots

The Boots Are Also Crucial Markers Of 2000s Fashion

Although Ugg boots have been around since the 1970s, they became extremely popular in the West in the late 1990s and mid-2000s. The sheepskin boots may not be all that well-known in the present day. However, Time Cut perfectly highlights how everyone wanted their hands on them in 2003. It shows how many students at Lucy's school sport the iconic shoes to reflect a certain laid-back style of that era.

5 iPods & MP3 Players

Time Cut Shows How They Were The Only Music Storage Devices Before Smartphones

While walking through her school's corridor, Lucy also notices a line of students using iPods and mp3 players. Since smartphones did not exist at the time, music storage devices were used by the masses to carry their favorite tunes with them. However, Lucy's expression suggests she has no clue what the devices are meant for.

4 Back To The Future Reference

The Film Takes A Subtle Jab At Back To The Future

To explain the butterfly effect to Lucy, Quinn recalls the scene from Back to the Future in which Marty notices his parents disappearing from his family photo. He says that, unlike Marty McFly from Back to the Future, they would experience a lot more than just a fading photograph if they tried to manipulate the events of the past. While it is understandable what the character is trying to imply, he does not seem to understand the actual implications of the fading of the photograph.

3 Arnold Schwarzenegger's Potential Presidency

The Movie Subtly Refers To Schwarzenegger's Foray Into Politics

Curious about the future, Quinn asks Lucy if Arnold Schwarzenegger will become the United States president in 2024. His curiosity surrounding Schwarzenegger's political journey makes sense since the Terminator star was elected Governor of California in 2003. Hilariously, without delving into the details of who holds the presidency in the future, Lucy tells him that things are far worse than he can imagine.

2 Blackberry's Downfall

Lucy Hints At The Company's Fall From Grace

Hoping to earn some big bucks in the future, Quinn asks Lucy if he should invest in Blackberry. Since Blackberry was thriving up till 2011, it makes sense that Quinn sees it as a good investment opportunity. However, since Lucy is aware of Blackberry's downfall after Android and iOS' rise, she tells him it may not be a good idea to put his money in the company.

1 Legalization Of Same-Sex Marriage In The US

Lucy Assures Her Sister That Some Things Are Better In The Future

When Summer grows increasingly concerned about the future, Lucy assures her that not everything is bad in 2024. She reveals that after the United States legalized same-sex marriages across all states, many people came out of the closet and celebrated their sexual identities. Since Lucy eventually manages to save Summer from the Sweetly Slasher in Time Cut's ending, Summer likely lived to see the day when love was celebrated more inclusively.

A teenage girl goes back in time to the early 2000s to save her sister from a dangerous killer.

Director Hannah Macpherson

Release Date October 30, 2024

Writers Michael Kennedy , Hannah Macpherson

Cast Madison Bailey , Megan Best , Michael Shanks , Antonia Gentry , Griffin Gluck

Character(s) Lucy Field , Emmy Golden , Gil

Runtime 95 Minutes